Mohammed Polo names two local coaches for Black Stars coaching job

Ghana football legend Mohammed Polo has endorsed Kassim Mingle and Abdul Karim Zito as possible candidates for the vacant Black Stars head coach position. The Ghanaian team is seeking a new coach following Carlos Queiroz’s departure in October due to the country’s poor start to the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations qualifying campaign.

The Ghana Football Association, in collaboration with the Sports Ministry, has assembled a five-member technical search committee to identify and recommend suitable candidates. The committee aims to present its findings by October 9. Polo, who was part of Ghana's 1978 AFCON-winning squad, thinks Zito should also be considered for the role.

"That was Zito. Unfortunately, he is not in the scene. I don’t know whether he’s relaxed or whatever," Polo told Citi Sports. Karim Zito "But football, there is an option now. Otherwise, I would have said he is someone who can be given the chance to do something." Polo also gave his support to Dreams FC coach Mingle, declaring him his preferred candidate.

"To me, Kassim Mingle is the only one that I look at. And they’re giving him Under-17s," he added. The Black Stars are facing intense scrutiny after failing to secure a spot in the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco and having a disappointing start to their 2027 qualifying campaign. They suffered a 2-0 loss to Ivory Coast and a 4-2 defeat to The Gambia, resulting in no points from their opening two Group C matches.

The team will aim to turn their fortunes around in November when they take on Somalia in a double-header at the Accra Sports Stadium. The search committee will also recommend an interim coach to manage those matches while the process of appointing a permanent head coach continues.